Why are the oil sands in Canada so controversial?

Answers

Oil sands are one of the dirtiest possible forms of energy that can be harvested. A barrel of oil taken from sands as opposed to conventional methods emits about 82% more greenhouse gasses (according to the EPA). It also takes about 4 barrels of conventional oil to harvest one barrel of oil from sands.

The arguments against oil sands are extremely valid. A natural resource that requires the use of large amounts of other resources goes against any definition of “sustainable”. It simply does not make sense to use more energy to harvest the product than what is actually coming from it. A counterproductive idea that should really be stopped.